I have found out through experience that the harshest critics in the
automotive repair industry are ALWAYS the people with the least amount of
mechanical know- how. The less you know- the more you spend. (I have no idea
who Boston Bob is, but most mechanics will NOTeven look under the hood of a
Vanagon or even an air-cooled 1600) -but if you take my wife for
example---she can't read a dashboard gauge and even if she could she
couldn't put 1+1 together and see that an overheating engine means to pull
over RIGHT NOW--we recently sold her 93 Mitzubishi Eclipse with a blown
waterpump and now defunct engine to the boneyard. ( I shudder when she takes
"Squeaky " to work all by her lonesome).The trick here is to take care of
your vehicle in the first place. Check oil, water, keep regular maintenance,
recognize warning signs and when it comes to VW owners--keep a 2nd vehicle
handy.
Now I must leave and attemt to rebuild my 1600 cc 72' baha "Beast".

G.
84 Vanagon "Squeaky"
72 Baha Bug 1600cc
http://dieselslave.tripod.com

----- Original Message -----
From: "ROBERT DONALDS" <donalds1@VERIZON.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Friday, April 23, 2004 8:08 AM
Subject: Re: New Engine report

> Frank
>
> It's very rare that I have found the need to defend myself on this list
for
> anything other than my spelling and grammar BUT with all due respect
> Problems with Boston Bobs engine makes it sound like I did not build you a
> good engine and that's not a correct representation of the facts in this
> matter.
> Why don't you tell the list what we found when we took your Boston Bob Big
> valve engine apart
> after only 8 thousand miles. If you don't I will
> sounds like your gas mileage reflects the load what was the vans weight
five
> thousand pds is my guess
> Frank your trying to make me look bad and I took excellent care of you
> I'm disappointed in you
>
> I'm very proud of my products and I stand behind them sometimes more than
I
> should
> nobody does it better
> no brag just the facts
>
> Bob Donalds
> Boston Engine
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Frank Condelli" <RAlanen@AOL.COM>
> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> Sent: Friday, April 23, 2004 6:58 AM
> Subject: New Engine report
>
>
> > After taking my '87 Westy to Everybus and back I  think an engine report
> is
> > due.  Many of you may know of the problems I had  with my Boston Bob's
Big
> > Valve Engine.  Well, it finally got rebuilt and  the trip to Everybus
was
> its
> > first big trip after break in.  You may also  recall my concern about
oil
> pressure
> > on the first engine and then the second  engine so these are the main
> reason
> > for this report.  See _Vanagon 2.1 Engine Oil Pressure  Survey_
> > (http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/survey.htm)  .  I also want to add that I
> installed one of
> > those  performance chips in the ECU back in January so that has some
> bearing on
> > this  report.
> > Travelling many miles with my friends Tom & Ina  from Detroit in their
'87
> > Westy similarly loaded but with a well used OEM engine  I did not notice
> any
> > perceptible difference in performance in acceleration or  cruising.
When
> pulling
> > on to freeways I could not out accelerate them but  seem to be making
the
> > same performance as they were.  On the highway  cruising we both seemed
to
> have
> > the same power.  So big valves and  performance chip I don't see what's
up
> with
> > that except low gas mileage.  I  will say that I was able to climb hills
a
> > bit better and not have to shift to  third as often
> but.................?????
> > I'm thinking a well built  stock configured engine and no performance
chip
> is
> > the best most  economical, reliable way to go. But, I will reserve final
> > judgement  until the end of my summers travels !
> > Everybus 2004 trip - gas & mileage - April 13 ~ 22
> > 1987 Westfalia - fully loaded with two persons and dog on board.
> > Mobile 1 full synthetic oil - first use since break in - 4901 km ~ 2942
> > miles on new engine
> > Oil filter - Hengst, H14W04
> > Oil pressure readings taken after full day of highway running, average
> speed
> > - 120 km/hr
> > idle - 5 lbs
> > 2000 rpm - 16 lbs
> > 4000 rpm - 37 lbs - steady throughout trip.
> > Total distance of trip - 4012.6 km ~2408.52 mi
> > Gas consumption - 641.67 litres ~ 141.154 gal. = 6.25 l/km ~ 17.06  mpg
> > Oil consumption - 2 litres
> > Cheers,
> >
> > Frank  Condelli
> > Almonte, Ontario, Canada
> > _BusFusion_ (http://members.aol.com/BusFusion/bfhome.htm)  a VW Camper
> > camping event, Almonte, ON, June 10 ~ 13, 2004
> > '87 Westy & Lionel  Trains
> > Member: _Vanagon List_ (http://www.vanagon.com/) , _LiMBO_
> > (http://www.bcn.net/~limbo/) , _IWCCC_ (http://www.westfalia.qc.ca/)  &
> _CCVWC_
> > (http://www.ccvwc.ca/)
> > Vanagon/Vanagon Westfalia Service in  the Ottawa Valley
> > _STEBRO/Vanagon Stainless Steel  Mufflers_
> > (http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/stebro.htm)
> > _Frank Condelli &  Associates_
> (http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/busindex.html)
> > or  http://frankcondelli.com
>